Century Variants

David Gillingham

Subtitle: A Layman's Guide to the Band

General Info

Year: 2009
Duration: c. 7:55
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: C. Alan
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $90.00 | Score Only (print) - $20.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V, including:

Bass Drum, large and small
Bells
Chimes
Concert Tom (3)
Crash Cymbals
Hi-Hat
Marimba
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tam-Tam
Temple Blocks
Vibraphone
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Century Variants was commissioned by David Knox of banddirector.com. The project was very unique in that band directors and musicians could have sneak peeks at the composition as it developed on the composer's website.

The composition is dedicated to Dr. Peter Boonshaft, Director of Bands at Hofstra University, for it was Peter who urged me to write a set of variations based on the primary melody of my work, New Century Dawn, written in 2000. The composition is designed to be quite versatile, in that it is a set of variations which can introduce the symphonic band to the layman or to young children contemplating playing a band instrument. For example, the high school band director could play this piece with the added optional narration (see below) for the local grade school children for the purpose of recruitment. Or the piece could be used at a concert to introduce the band to parents and people of the community. If choosing not to use the narration, the piece will stand as a concert work to be featured on any high school or university program. The details of the structure of the piece are revealed in the Optional Narration below:

Measure 14: Welcome to the world of the Symphonic Band, a large ensemble comprised of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. To help you hear the various components and colors of this ensemble, you are going to hear a theme followed by six variations. First, we will hear the theme played by the combined forces of the entire ensemble.

Measure 40: Variation I features the backbone of the band, the percussion section. The percussion section features plethora of pitched and indefinite pitched instruments that are used to support the rhythmic, harmonic, and melodic parameters of the music as well as provide their own color. In order of appearance, we will hear the timpani, xylophone, vibraphone, tubular bells, orchestra bells, marimba, snare drum and hi-hat

Measure 69: Variations II and III feature the versatile woodwinds comprised of piccolo, flutes, oboes, bassoons, Bb Clarinets, Bass Clarinet and the saxophones. Variation II begins with the fluttery piccolo and flutes over all clarinets playing the theme, followed by a variants by the oboes and bassoons, then saxophones and culminating with all woodwinds. Variation III is another variant beginning with all woodwinds followed by flutes accompanying the saxophones and again ending with all woodwinds.

Measure 159: In true form, the brass have interrupted the end of Variation III, announcing the coming of Variations IV, V, and VI that showcase the brass section. Variation IV has the distinction of having the slowest tempo of the entire composition and features the warm and lyrical quality of the horn section. This is followed by Variation V which quickly changes to a faster tempo and touts the dramatic and aggressive sound of the low brass comprised of trombones, euphoniums and tubas. Topping off the brass section are the trumpets that play joyfully and fanfare-like in Variation VI. The variation ends with a full band rendition.

Measure 242: In conclusion, all sections will be recapped in a sort of parade of instruments. Over a continuous ostinato by the hi-hat we will hear timpani, temple blocks, tubular bells, orchestra bells, vibraphone, oboes, bassoons, clarinets, saxophones, flutes, piccolo, horns, trombones, euphoniums, tubas, and trumpets, all leading to a grand finale.

- Program Note by composer

Commercial Discography

Audio CD: Buchholz High School Wind Symphony (Alexander Kaminsky, conductor) - 2009
Audio CD: University of Texas at El Paso Symphonic Winds (Ron Hufstader, conductor) - 2012

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

Alabama: Class A
Georgia: VI

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of North Texas (Denton) University Band (Kelly Desjardins, conductor) – 8 November 2017
California All-State High School Symphonic Band (Peter Boonshaft, conductor) - 19 February 2017 (2017 CASMEC Conference, San Jose)
Utah All-State Band (Dennis Fisher, conductor) - 24 January 2015
Buchholz High School (Gainesville, Fla.) Wind Symphony (Alex Kaminsky, conductor; Ray Cramer, narrator) – 17 December 2009 (2009 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Appalachian Counterpoint (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
At Morning's First Light (Flex instrumentation) (2004/2020)
Scherzo d'Espoir (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Three Ships (Flex instrumentation) (2020)

All Wind Works

Abiquiu (2010)
Aerodynamics (2003)
America the Beautiful (as arranger) (1882/2018)
And Can It Be? (2000)
Angels of the Apocalypse (2013)
Apocalyptic Dreams (1995)
Appalachian Counterpoint (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Assurance
At Evening's First Star (2019)
At Morning's First Light (2004)
At Morning's First Light (Flex instrumentation) (2004/2020)
Au Sable River Festival (2002)
Be Thou My Vision (1999)
Bells of Freedom (2002)
Beneath the Sacred Light (2015)
Bright Gleams a Beacon (2012)
Cantus Laetus (2001)
Century Variants (2009)
Concertino for Four Percussion and Wind Ensemble (1997)
Concerto for Euphonium, Winds and Percussion (2009)
Concerto for Horn and Symphonic Band (2008)
Concerto for Woodwind Quintet and Wind Ensemble (1984/2006)
Concerto No. 2 for Marimba and Wind Ensemble (2008)
Concerto for Piano, Percussion and Wind Orchestra (arr. Fisher) (2005)
Council Oak (2002)
A Crescent Still Abides (1998)
Crest of Honor (2005)
Double F Fanfare (2008)
Drums of Rwanda (2014)
The Echo Never Fades (2004)
Finale, from All Hail the Power
Fire Up
Foster's America (2003)
Foundations (2017)
Galactic Empires (1998)
Glorified (2010)
Heroes, Lost and Fallen (1990)
Homage (2012)
Home Again (2016)
Internal Combustion (1999)
Intrada Jubilante (1979/1999)
Jeju Memoir (2019)
Joyau (2019)
Keep Silence (2004)
Kentucky Home (2012)
A Light Unto the Darkness (1997/1998)
Mansions of Glory (2007)
New Century Dawn (1999)
No Shadow of Turning (2005)
Point of Reckoning (arr. Daughtrey) (2015)
Providence (2003)
Quintessence I (1997)
Quintessence II (2006)
Radiant Moonbeams (2007)
Rising Star
Sails of Time (2006)
Scherzo d'Espoir (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Serenade for Winds and Percussion (2000)
Seven Bagatelles (2014)
Song Shall Never End, The (2014)
Sub-Saharan Rhythm (1998)
Symphony No. 2 (2007)
Three Ships (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Vintage (1990)
Vital Signs of Planet Earth (2015)
Waking Angels (1997)
When Speaks the Signal Trumpet Tone (1999)
While the Dew Is Still on the Roses (2013)
With Heart and Voice (2000)

Resources

Gillingham, D. (2009). Century Variants [score]. C. Alan Publications: Greensboro, N.C.